Floating Vessel Secondary Hull for Sterile Liquid Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sampling devices for aquatic environments risk contaminating the environment during sampling, rendering the samples unusable for scientific analysis.
Innovation Solution
A floating device with a hull and superstructure, featuring aerial propulsion, remote control, a peristaltic pump, and a removable secondary hull to prevent contamination, allowing for sterile sampling and storage of liquid samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sampling device is used to take liquid samples from aquatic environments, then samples can be collected for analysis, but the device may contaminate the environment and render samples unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a permanent superstructure and a removable secondary hull. The secondary hull can be detached and replaced between sampling campaigns, allowing the permanent parts to be sterilized while the removable hull is discarded, thus preventing cross-contamination and ensuring sample integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary hull is extracted as a separate, removable component that can be independently disposed of after use. This extraction allows the sampling interface to be completely replaced between campaigns, eliminating any risk of contamination from the hull to the environment or sample.
2Reliability
If a peristaltic pump is used to minimize contact between sampling components and the liquid sample, then contamination is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump replaces traditional mechanical sampling mechanisms that require direct contact with the sample. By using a flexible tube that is extrinsically pressed by rollers, the system eliminates the need for internal moving parts that could contaminate the sample, achieving contamination-free sampling despite increased system complexity.
3Reliability
If a removable secondary hull is used for each sampling campaign, then contamination-free sampling is guaranteed, but the ease of operation decreases due to assembly and disassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary hull is pre-configured with all necessary sampling components (intake ports, tube routing, mounting features) before use. This preliminary preparation allows for quick attachment to the superstructure without requiring complex on-site assembly, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring sterile conditions for each sampling campaign.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables contamination-free sampling by using a secondary shell for each campaign and a peristaltic pump to minimize contact with the device's internal parts, ensuring the integrity of the samples for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a peristaltic pump comprising a roller train pressing an elastic tube located outside the hull
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a floating vessel for taking liquid samples, comprising a shell (2) that has a hull (3) to be submerged in a liquid medium below the water line and a superstructure (4) arranged above the water line; the vessel also comprises air propulsion means, means for taking and storing samples, and means for remotely controlling the air propulsion means and the sampling means; and the vessel further comprises a secondary detachable shell (32) provided with means for fixing to the shell (2) of the vessel, covering at least the hull of the vessel.